A personal blog by a graying (mostly Anglo with light African-American roots) gay left leaning liberal progressive married college-educated Buddhist Baha'i BBC/NPR-listening Professor Emeritus now following the Dharma in Minas Gerais, Brasil.
Monday, August 27, 2012
Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:
Tricycle Daily Dharma August 27, 2012
Getting a Sense of Humor
Fortunately,
getting a sense of humor doesn’t come with a price tag. It simply
requires understanding that everything we experience is universal; all
the humiliations and hijinks are a part of life; each and every one of
us gets to slip on the banana peel. So pick yourself up, brush yourself
off, and laugh about it, for crying out loud.
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- Josh Korda, "Now What?"
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:
Tricycle Daily Dharma August 26, 2012
Nothing Born, Nothing Dying
From
the intrinsic standpoint—one of body, of Buddha-nature—non-killing
means that there is nothing being born and nothing dying. The very
notions of 'birth' and 'death' are extra. Life does not divide up into
things to be killed or not killed; it is just this one body, constantly
changing.
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- Bernard Glassman, "Precept Study: Ethics in Action"
Saturday, August 25, 2012
Via JMG: Hate Group Hypocrisy Of The Day
Remember all the screams about yard signs and chikin graffiti? According to the American Family Association, vandalism is totally OK when it's their side doing it.
AFA was recently contacted by a Home Depot employee who says the boycott of Home Depot is being effective. "We have customers who come into our store and confront our store managers over the HD's support of Gay pride. The AFA is having an effect on HD." She also shared that many employees disagree with the company's pro-gay-marriage stand. In June, a "Gay Pride Month" poster (photo right) was put up in her breakroom. "HD is as committed as ever to the changing of laws in favor of same sex marriage. They had absolutely no empathy for those employees who voiced offense with the display. This was mandated by corporate directive. Therefore the display was torn down at least 2 times."Freepers are thrilled.
Via JMG: Tyler Clementi's Mother: I've Changed
The mother of Tyler Clementi, the gay Rutgers student who leaped to his death from the George Washington Bridge, says she's riddled with self-blame but has come to a new understanding about her son's sexuality.
“I think some people think that sexual orientation can be changed or prayed over,” she said now, in her kitchen. “But I know sexual orientation is not up for negotiation. I don’t think my children need to be changed. I think that what needed changing is attitudes, or myself, or maybe some other people I know.” She decided she could no longer attend her church, because doing so would suggest she supported its teachings against homosexuality.Read the full sad article.
And she took strength from reading the Bible as she reconsidered her views. “At this point I think Jesus is more about reconciliation and love,” she said. “He spoke more about divorce than homosexuality, but you can be divorced and join a church more than you can be gay and join churches.” What has troubled her most is the thought that Tyler believed she had rejected him.
Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:
Tricycle Daily Dharma August 25, 2012
Being Careful with Thoughts
People
are often careless about the thoughts they give rise to, assuming that
once they forget about a thought, that thought is finished. This is not
true. Once you give rise to a thought, it keeps functioning, and
eventually its consequences return to you.
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- Daehaeng Kun Sunim, "Thinking Big"
Friday, August 24, 2012
Via JMG: Record 470 Openly LGBT Delegates To Attend Democratic Convention
At least 470 delegates at the Democratic Convention will be openly LGBT. Chris Johnson reports at the Washington Blade:
The upcoming Democratic National Convention is set to have a record number of openly LGBT delegates, although goals for some states aren’t being met, according to new data from the National Stonewall Democrats. The organization as of Wednesday evening identified at least 470 openly LGBT delegates that are set to attend the convention, but more data is expected to become public at a later time. A total of 5,963 delegates are set to come to Charlotte, N.C.., for the event during the week of Sept. 3. Having 470 delegates exceeds the goal of 418 delegates at the convention and is already higher than numbers from 2008, when 277 delegates participated.California leads the pack with 74 LGBT delegates. States sending only one: Mississippi, North Dakota, South Dakota, West Virginia and Wyoming. Several states are sending LGBT delegates for the first time ever.
Via Buddhism on Beliefnet:
Daily Buddhist Wisdom | |||
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Via JMG: NEW YORK: Bullied Bus Monitor Karen Klein Launches Anti-Bullying Foundation
You may recall that over $700,000 flooded into an internet account set up as a "vacation fund" for New York bus monitor Karen Klein after she was seen being brutally bullied by students on a viral cell video. This is what she's doing with some of the money:
My story inspired more than 32,000 people to engage in their own act of love by donating to a fundraising campaign created by Max for my support. As you probably know, together we raised a lot more money than what I needed to go on vacation. 32,000 people around the world raised $703,873 for my behalf. It has changed my life forever. Now, I am not only going on vacation, but I am able to retire and take care of my family. You have all inspired me by your acts of love. But now it is time for me to give back and to turn your single act of kindness into my own personal movement to stop bullying in America. The Karen Klein Anti-Bullying Foundation, which I am seeding with $100,000, will be the gathering point for millions of people to support the anti-bullying movement. Together, we will change the world.(Image via Buzzfeed)
Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:
Tricycle Daily Dharma August 24, 2012
Stay with Your Broken Heart
To
stay with that shakiness—to stay with a broken heart, with a rumbling
stomach, with the feeling of hopelessness and wanting to get
revenge—that is the path of true awakening. Sticking with that
uncertainty, getting the knack of relaxing in the midst of chaos,
learning not to panic—this is the spiritual path.
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- Pema Chödrön, "Stay with Your Broken Heart"
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:
Tricycle Daily Dharma August 23, 2012
The Greater Joy
The
scriptures say that when the mind indulges in sensual objects, it
becomes agitated. This is the usual state of affairs in the world, as we
can observe. In their quest for happiness, people mistake excitement of
the mind for real happiness. They never have the chance to experience
greater joy that comes with peace and tranquility.
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- Sayadaw U Pandita, "A Perfect Balance"
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